Norman Jack Berger was born on January 19, 1929, in Mobile, Alabama. He attended Gulf Coast Military Academy and graduated from the University of Alabama. He married Ruth Rosen of Yazoo City, Mississippi on August 10, 1951.

Norman briefly taught high school at Vigor High School prior to returning to school to study dentistry. He graduated from Loyola Dental School in New Orleans, and, after serving as a public health dentist in the prison system, maintained a dental practice in Mobile for many years, first on McGregor Avenue near Airport Boulevard, and then at 100 S. University Boulevard.

Norman has been active in public service to the Mobile community, having served several terms as a Commissioner on the Mobile County School Board. He has also run as a candidate for Mobile City Council. Norman has also served on the Board and as President of Ahavas Chesed Synagogue. He also serves on the Board of Senior Citizens' Services of Mobile.

Norman retired from the practice of Dentistry on June 1, 1998, in order to devout the remainder of his life to scholarly pursuits, including becoming a computer scientist (and the perpetual annoyance of his wife, Ruth, who has threatened to take up working as a defense).